Australian PM Blasts Obama, Democrats on Iraq

Australian Prime Minister John Howard harshly criticized Barack Obama and other Democrats on their plans to withdraw from Iraq on a timetable. Howard said "If I was running al-Qaeda in Iraq, I would put a circle around March 2008 and pray, as many times as possible, for a victory not only for Obama, but also for the Democrats." Obama has since responded saying that if he's so supportive of the war then he should send 20,000 new Australian soldiers to Iraq.



I agree with Howard's analysis of the situation; however, I question the wisdom of a foreign leader so publicly attacking a specific candidate in a U.S. election -- and a primary one at that.

Related News Links:
www.nytimes.com

[edit on 11/2/2007 by Mirthful Me]

I agree with Howard's analysis of the situation; however, I question the wisdom of a foreign leader so publicly attacking a specific candidate in a U.S. election -- and a primary one at that.

Yes, many will speak out against this, yet they find it perfectly fine for a Foreign Leader to come here and verbally attack the President....

Double standards are going to apply all through this campaign.

Hypocrisy will abound...

Semper

I agree with Howard's analysis of the situation; however, I question the wisdom of a foreign leader so publicly attacking a specific candidate in a U.S. election -- and a primary one at that.

I'm not so sure that the words wisdom and John Howard should be put in the same sentence.
Fortunately not too many people take him seriously anyway.

Barack made the right response. Howard should keep his nose out of domestic American politics he wouldn't like it if Barack openly supported Rudd for PM.

Howard has made sure that the ADF has only sent troops to "safe" areas leaving Britain and the UK with most of the burden.

Originally posted by xpert11
Barack made the right response. Howard should keep his nose out of domestic American politics he wouldn't like it if Barack openly supported Rudd for PM.

I agree with you there.

In the last election one of Kerry's major gaffes (probably only second to the "I voted for it before I voted against it" statement) was claiming many foreign leaders wanted him to win. I don't think Americans like being told how to vote by foreigners -- even from closely allied nations such as Australia.

[edit on 2/11/2007 by djohnsto77]

Originally posted by djohnsto77
I don't think Americans like being told how to vote by foreigners -- even from closely allied nations such as Australia.

Is this story getting much coverage in the US? I would imagine a lot of people, such as yourself, will agree directly with Mr. Howard's assessment. How many other people will see the phrase 'Al-Qaeda' and think, consciously or not, 'I wonder...'?



[edit on 11-2-2007 by KhieuSamphan]

Originally posted by KhieuSamphan
Is this story getting much coverage in the US?

It's getting some coverage today, but it probably doesn't have that much legs, especially with all the other stuff going on here.

first of all if obama is going to talk about foreign policy comments by foreign leaders are to be expected especially if the policy is a complete joke and they disagree as australia is right in the mud with us. these stupid politicians need to shut the hell up and stop giving pull out dates, these chants dont fall on def ears.

secondly I find it odd how obama made a speech talking about a 'new direction' and an end to partisanship and then called the australian PM a ' bush ally' acting like it was an orchestrated criticism. obama is a joke and a socialist.

IMO we need to ship all of these liberal politicians off to the EU where they belong.



[edit on 11-2-2007 by ape]

Originally posted by djohnsto77
I agree with Howard's analysis of the situation; however, I question the wisdom of a foreign leader so publicly attacking a specific candidate in a U.S. election -- and a primary one at that.

djohnsto77

People need to speak out against liberal lunatics like obama and the rest of communist party. Howard is doing exactly what needs to be done.

Originally posted by MooneyBravo
djohnsto77

People need to speak out against liberal lunatics like obama and the rest of communist party. Howard is doing exactly what needs to be done.

I agree.

The only thing I'm saying it's usually better for that to come from within rather than from overseas.

Like I said, I agree with Howard's assessment.

what are the chances of the upcoming elections being fixed after Obama's public announcement that he would take the troops out of Iraq in 2008?

My reasoning for this is that now that he has said that, it may be the only way the US could get out of Iraq, regardless whether they are winning or loosing, it may be the only way out for them!

Ozzie-Johnny couldn't be more wrong, but he probably don't read National Intelligence reports.

The “Zawahiri letter,” which was dated July 9, 2005, said a rapid American military withdrawal could have caused the foreign jihadists, who had flocked to Iraq to battle the Americans, to simply give up the fight and go home.

“The mujahaddin must not have their mission end with the expulsion of the Americans from Iraq, and then lay down their weapons, and silence the fighting zeal,” said the “Zawahiri letter,” according to a text released by the office of the U.S. Director of National Intelligence.

This information was exposed in the election campaign last fall, but never made it to the mainstream news of course, and obviously not at all to Canberra.

It is from a Robert Perry article on Consortium News. To some of you he's just another commie, I know that, but I just don't get the graduation of the political spectrum in the U.S. -- Liberals are socialist, yes, even communists I see here, where in Europe a liberal is a conservative. Wonder what real socialist and communists are then?

I just don't dare put down on print what they might be called.

Another snippet to confuse the general lies fed to Americans (from same link).

For instance, more credence would be given to an intercepted Dec. 11, 2005, communiqué from a senior bin Laden lieutenant known as “Atiyah” to the then-chief of al-Qaeda in Iraq, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, a document discovered by the U.S. military at the time of Zarqawi’s death in June 2006.

In the letter about al-Qaeda’s strategy in Iraq, Atiyah told Zarqawi that “prolonging the war is in our interest.” A chief reason, Atiyah explained, was that Zarqawi’s brutal tactics had alienated many Iraqi Sunni insurgents and thus a continued U.S. military presence was needed to buy time for al-Qaeda to mend fences and put down roots.

The “Atiyah letter” – like a previously intercepted message attributed to al-Qaeda’s second-in-command Ayman Zawahiri – indicated that a U.S. military pullout could be disastrous for al-Qaeda’s terrorist bands, which are estimated at only about 5 to 10 percent of the anti-U.S. fighters in Iraq.

Without the U.S. military presence to serve as a rallying cry and a unifying force, the al-Qaeda contingent faced disintegration from desertions and attacks from Iraqi insurgents who resented the wanton bloodshed committed by Zarqawi’s non-Iraqi terrorists.

Just keep in mind this is verified U.S. intelligence.

All this just makes me wonder - just what is Obama's stand on the international deep sea oil drilling agreements?

Prime Minister John Howard is a Patriot and a leader in the war on terror, for a junior senator/presidential candidate to come back and make demands of the prime minister shows the inexperience and carelessness of Obama.
If the US was only so lucky to have a man like John Howard be an actual American. However all Americans should take note when he talks to them, after all we listen up if Yosama Bin Ladin or Iran's pocket sized Ahmadinininininedjihad has a message for us , why shouldn't we listen the the PM of one of the US' closest allies, Australia.
I much rather vote for John Howard for President than Obama, so Obama better watch that million dollar mouth of his or he might be out of the running early.

[edit on 12-2-2007 by Low Orbit]

Originally posted by Low Orbit
Prime Minister John Howard is a Patriot and a leader in the war on terror, for a junior senator/presidential candidate to come back and make demands of the prime minister shows the inexperience and carelessness of Obama.
If the US was only so lucky to have a man like John Howard be an actual American. However all Americans should take note when he talks to them, after all we listen up if Yosama Bin Ladin or Iran's pocket sized Ahmadinininininedjihad has a message for us , why shouldn't we listen the the PM of one of the US' closest allies, Australia.
I much rather vote for John Howard for President than Obama, so Obama better watch that million dollar mouth of his or he might be out of the running early.

[edit on 12-2-2007 by Low Orbit]

Sorry Low Orbit, your name must have been mistaken for Low IQ should it not?

John Howard is not what I would call a Patriot - he has done more negative actions towards the average joe in Australia than good, I would never ever put him and patriot in the same sentence. A Patriot does what is good for the country, good for the people and good for democracy - this is not John Coward!

Obama has a right to react the way that he did against John Coward and I would say that his response was very articulate and thought out, unlike the initial outburst that Coward made.

As for you wanting to vote for Coward rather than Obama - mate, you can have him, I'll personally pay for the air fare for him to go to the States and stay there.

Howard has shown himself now, more than ever to be a genuine puppet of George Bush, who in turn is a puppet of the Global Elites.

George Bush says, "Johnny, we need you to jump" and howard goes " Yes sir, Bush, ol pal, how high would you like me to jump? Is this high enough?"

pleeaaasssee!

The sooner both our conservative governments are out on their back sides the better for everyone!

Melbourne, you are one of those people who thought you were supposed to get a check for the spoils in the War in Iraq didn't you since it's probably all about oil. War doesn't make nations rich but it does make them safe, and unfortunately right now our nations need to trade a little capitol for a little safety.
Melbourne, like Ive asked hundreds of people before you, if you don't like the strategy how would you pull out a win over there, and the answer is you don't, YOU lose the war. Terrorism and nuclear exploitation are risks the US and Australia are unwilling to take from Iran.

Obama is a presidential candidate he is a puppet of the polls right now, anyone who believes any different is a fool.
Howard and Bush are Political Leaders who are responsible for making life and death decisions on a daily basis, I am certain neither takes their job lightly. Terrorism is real and there continues to be state sponsors of terrorism that need to be confronted, next up Iran or Syria, let's keep them guessing for a bit longer.

No, in the contrary, I did not expect any cheque whatsoever for this illegal and imoral war. I didnt want it to start in the first place. None of the international rules relating to war, prisoners of war, anything really have been followed.

Your notion that war doesnt make nations rich is a farce, damn right it makes them rich. Why do you think the US has been involved in so many wars in the last 100 years? Because it generates a huge income, not for the average person on the street but for the government and the military-industrial complex, not to mention the oil cartels.

Your misguided beleif that the Iraq war is about terrorism just goes to show how naive alot of you americans really are - how can you possibly beleive the dribble that Bush preaches through the filtered media to you?

Iraq had nothing to do with Al-Qaeda, Iraq actually kicked a few Al-Qaeda members out of their country in the past, The US/CIA put Saddam in power and financed him all those years, with both money/trade and weapons.

Since the US "made" him, they should have payed the price for his wrongs in the end as well.

Terrorism wasn not an issue in Iraq beofre this phony war started, it became an issue after George Bush declared the war over, and the resistance fighters began blowing themselves up and fighting a guerilla war. This war was a calling for all jihadist around the world to go and fight the USA in their backyard - this is wrong, what the war has now become.

You are right in that we cannot now win this war - it is a precarious positon the west has got itself into. One way that I think "might" some how work is for the troops to pull out and let Iran and Saudi Arabia fight for Iraq, with the West supporting the Saudis as they do (which I find very hypocritical). This will not involve our troops, yet the results would be acceptable, thats assuming the Saudi defeat the Iranians, either way they will wear themselves out to a point where the Western Imperial powers could come in as they always do and exerpt their influence over the region again, quite possibly more succesfully than ever before in that alot of their infrastructure and moral would have been crushed as would any of their opposition forces.

I reckon it could work.

Melbourne, like Ive asked hundreds of people before you, if you don't like the strategy how would you pull out a win over there, and the answer is you don't, YOU lose the war. Terrorism and nuclear exploitation are risks the US and Australia are unwilling to take from Iran.

Been hearing a lot of "if we pull out we lose" type of statements lately. So i ask this question

How do you win?

We (the u.s and its allies) can't win in iraq. We need to stop babysitting the iraqi national guard. Why don't they have their act together? Cause they know that when the # hits the fan we will be there to bail em out. Not to mention the police force is so heavily infiltrated and corrupt that our forces don't trust em one bit.

We leave. Doesnt have to be all at once,as long as we make it clear that we wont be there forever. Building that gigantic embassy in the green zone isnt doin much to get that idea across. Tell maliki to get their men in line. It's your country,DEFEND it.

The best options for iraq would be for us to withdraw our main force,and leave behind training/support units. Put the ING and police on the streets,handling all the checkpoints,and learning to stop the violence.

As long as we are there,we give people on all sides a reason to be angry. Once we leave there will be nothing but iraqi nationals. Sunni and shia can settle their differences all they want,without the big bad imperialistic america in their way. Whether we like it or not, iran,syria, and the different religious sects in the region are goin to have it anyway,sooner or later. We dont need to be in the middle of it.

John Howard has done a lot of good for Australia in recent years.
His tough stance on border security is one of those things that you don't see pay for itself, even though in long term reality it does.

Yes, he may very well be "Bush's yes man", he is also known to stick to his guns, unlike any of the opposition. I've voted for Howard in the past, and I'll gladly do it again.

While i wish we weren't in Iraq (I've got a friend who was over there), we are. The least we can do is support our troops and their best interests.

This is the Australian contribution to Iraq in 2003
en.wikipedia.org...

Howard has also announced sending more troops.

Sorry, but I couldn't help but respond to this.

Originally posted by Low Orbit
...state sponsors of terrorism that need to be confronted, next up Iran or Syria, ...

Eh! ...fixin' t'world?

Howard and Bush are Political Leaders who are responsible for making life and death decisions on a daily basis, I am certain neither takes their job lightly.

Yes, they are leaders, and that's why they oughta h... for their irresponsibilities. Because few has caused so much suffering -- not to mention the damage yet to be amounted -- like them. For what? ...for theft and domination? Not for protection of the American people.

(allow me a parenthesis... as a Euro it's hard to understand this believe still stands, ... okay 30+/- is also a crowd remarkable, but not considerabel)

My country is still shamefully a part of the gang of the willing, though insignificant, sure too to blame for inserting fear to control the world.


OBAMA for PRES 08